I just read an article on the CNN website. The purpose of the article was to discuss the problems that people who are trying to immigrate to the United States legally are experiencing. One of the examples was a woman who is married to a United States citizen who applied for a green card. After her daughter was born, she traveled to her country so that her daughter could meet her grandparents. When she tried to return to the United States, she was not permitted to enter with her visitor’s visa. Once you apply for a green card, you can no longer enter the United States with a visitor’s visa because you no longer have a visitor’s intent.
What the article fails to mention is that there is a process for an applicant for adjustment of status to travel outside of the United States while their application is pending. Someone in this situation should apply for something called “advance parole.” Had she filed for advance parole before leaving the United States, she would have been allowed back into the country. Unfortunately, too many people foolishly believe that they can do things without an immigration lawyer without realizing the problems that they create for themselves. Because these people tried to do their green card application without a lawyer, their family is now separated.